Improvement in machines for embossing stair-plates



W. B. GOULD.

Machines for Embossing Stair-Plates.

Patented Feb. 24.1874.

F ill/messed:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAM B. GOULD, OF MONTROSE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR EMBOSSING STAlR-PLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,?67, dated February 24, 1874; application filed January 13, 1874.

To all whom it may con-corn:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM B. GOULD, of Mentrose, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Embossing Step and Stair llates, &c., of which the following is a specification The object of this invention is to so improve machines for embossing sheet-metal step and stair plates and similar articles that, without great expense, variations in the pattern or ornamentation produced by said machines may be introduced.

Ileretofore sheet metal stair plates were usually embossed between a pair of rollers, one containing the pattern to be produced in projection, being the male die, and the other the same pattern in depression, being the female die. Each roller had the full length of the width of the plate to be embossed. Now, it frequently happens that proprietors of hotels, ships, &c., desire certain names, marks, or designs to be represented on the step-plates tha t are applied to their establishments, though accepting the ornamental patterns already in use by the manufacturers of such plates. It is also often desirable to represent one and the same central pattern with various styles of embossed borders,-and vice versa, to suit the fancy of purchasers. In every such instance it is, under the prevailing construction of embossing machinery, necessary to construct a new pair of impression-rollers entire for every variation of part of the pattern. As these rollers are expensive, it is evident that the cost of new patterns is also very high, and that manufacturers are not willing to avail themselves of new styles of ornaments, except under the severe pressure of competition.

I overcome the difficulty heretofore experienced by the use of removable male and female embossingrin gs, which are fitted upon the two I shafts of the machine, and which, when re moved, can be readily replaced by others. I can thus retain on the machine certain ringsfor example, those producing the border-and merely substitute other rings for the central pattern, or vice versa, and am thereby saved the expense of making new drums entire; and if a particular impression of name, trade-mark, or center ornament is desired, it is only necessary to make a pair of rings for pro ducing the same, while the rings for making the border and other ornaments may be retained. In fact,

with a small number of rings for central ornamentation and borders, and a few rings for special ornaments, such as an eagle, a ship, or the like, all customary demands can be supplied without involving extra cost to the maker.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine for embossing sheet-metal plates. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 0 c, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view of part of a sheetmetal plate embossed on the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A represents the frame of the machine. B and C are two shafts hung in the same, and connected by gearing a, or otherwise, so as to be rotated simultaneously with equal speed in opposite directions. Suitable mechanism may be employed for imparting rotary motion to these shafts. The bearings of the shafts arein slotted posts I) b X of the frame A, so that, especially, those of one-preferably the upper shaft may be adjusted by means of screws cl d, or otherwise, toward those of the other shaft, to increase and reduce pressure, and consequent depth of impression and one of the posts 0", or part of it, is also made removable from the frame, for the purpose of entirely liberating both shafts at one end, to permit the application and removal of the embossin rings to and from the said'shafts. One mode of accomplishing this is to secure said post to the framework by screws, as shown at m a in the drawing, that can be readily taken out without disturbing the frame-work, which lat ter is secured at the foot of post b, or other wise, to the flooring. Instead of making the post b removable, the posts may be slotted sidewise to permit the removal of the shafts B O sidewise from the machine. D D D D,

.&c., are the male embossing-rings, slipped upon one of the shafts, and E E E E, &c., the female embossing-rin gs, slipped upon the other shaft. These rings have their surfaces prepared for embossing in the manner customary of preparing embossing-surfaces. The first ring on each shaft bears against a collar, 6, of the shaft, and against the last ring on each shaft bears a nut, which crowds all the rings properly together on such shaft. In place of the nut, a pin fitted through a hole in the shaft, or other equivalentdevice, may be used. hen the removable post b or part of it, is withdrawn, the nuts f may be removed, and the rings removed and other rings put on, or the old rings interchanged at pleasure. A fcather, ,on each shaft enters grooves in the inner parts of the several rings, and causes the latter, therefore, to turn with the shaft, and holds them, furthermore, properly in place. The drawing represents the pattern on the rings D E to be ditferent from that of the other rings, so that by such rings 1) E aborder, 71, is produced on the sheet-metal plate 1:, Fig. 3, while such plate is being drawn between the shafts that carry the rings, while the remaining rings produce the main ornamentation '1'. If a name or a special design of any kind is to be produced on the same style of plate, it is only necessary to remove one pair of rings, say I)'- and E from the:

shafts, and to replace it by others prepared to emboss the required name or special design. lVhen another border is to be produced, but the main ornamentation to be retained, it is only necessary to replace the border-rings l) E by others properly prepared,and in fact any change of design may be rapidly and economically efl'ected.

I am aware that dies have been made adjustable 011 shafts, but this is not my inven tion and, therefore,

What I claim as my invention is--= In a machine for embossing sheet-metal plates, the combination of the removable embossing male rings D 1) D 850., and female rings E E E, &c., with the shafts B C, fasten ing-nutsff, and removable post b SIlbSi- Ub tially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

WILLIAM J GOULD.

\Yitnesses:

A. H. ADAMS, A. Y. Bmnsnx. 

